Monthly Archives: September 2024

News

Yorkshire Water Selects Netmore to Exchange 1.3 Million Meters in Tender for One of Europe’s Largest LoRaWAN® Water Metering Projects

The programme illustrates Yorkshire Water’s commitment to protecting and preserving water resources and further solidifies Netmore’s position as a leading LoRaWAN network provider and advanced metering infrastructure expert 

 

Stockholm, Sweden and Bradford, United Kingdom – (September 3, 2024) – Netmore Group, a leading global LoRaWAN network operator, and Yorkshire Water today announced that Netmore has been selected as the lead partner to exchange 1.3 million water meters across the Yorkshire region, subject to Ofwat’s final determination, due in December 2024. Aligned with Yorkshire Water’s strategy and as laid out in the Water Resources Management Plan 24 and the Price Review 24, this program is being implemented to exchange existing meters that are reaching the end of their operational life with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) designed to provide service improvements, enhanced customer support, and usage efficiencies. The contract will be for an initial term of 5 years, plus data services for the meters installed up to 2045.

Under the terms of the award, Netmore will lead a group of suppliers to deliver the end-to-end service, including the delivery, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of connected smart meters. Meters will be connected to Netmore’s LoRaWAN network for the delivery of Data-as-a-Service to Yorkshire Water. Netmore will also deploy and densify network coverage in the region directly and with partners to satisfy service levels required for Yorkshire Water to achieve targeted service improvements.

This new program will run concurrently with smart meter deployments that began in 2022 when Netmore was awarded AMI frameworks by Yorkshire Water for the delivery of LoRaWAN network services and provisioning of meters for up to 360k households, including new developments and Domestic Metered Optants.

 

“This deal is an exciting new milestone for Netmore as we continue to expand our water utility initiatives across Europe and at a time when utilities and municipalities around the world are migrating to sensor-based solutions capable of providing new and valuable datasets for measuring and conserving water for their customers and to address environmental concerns. We are once again very proud that Yorkshire Water, one of UK’s leading water utilities, has trusted Netmore to lead their AMI initiatives,” says Ove Anebygd, CEO, Netmore Group

“The initial smart metering program with Netmore launched in 2022 has helped Yorkshire Water deliver the first 500,000 litres of leakage reduction, by identifying water leakage on customers pipes. It has also helped us to better understand water demand patterns in our initial

 

25,000 Netmore smart meters and target water efficiency activity, all while delivering both operational value and the long-term perspective needed for the expansion of our AMI initiatives. Following a rigorous evaluation process and procurement analysis, we are confident in the choice of Netmore and its partners for our meter exchange program, as they collectively have the ability to help us deliver our ambitious goals and success criteria related to leakage, water efficiency, customer experience, and operational carbon emissions,” says Adam Smith, Manager of Smart Networks and Metering Transformation, YWS

 

Data driven insights to protect water resources and enhance customer experience 

Executing against a vision and plan with equal importance on customers and the environment, Yorkshire Water’s smart metering program is targeting service improvements in the following areas:

 

  • Water Leakage: Yorkshire Water has a goal of reducing leakage by 50%, by 2050 against a 2020 baseline. Identifying which properties have continuous flow and therefore are likely to have leakage or plumbing loss, allows for better leakage targeting and faster resolution of consumption anomalies.
  • Reduction in Per Capita Consumption: By working alongside customers to better understand water use, Yorkshire Water’s smart metering program is contributing toward achieving a Per Capita Consumption (PCC) goal of 110 liters per person, per day by 2050, against a 2020 baseline.
  • Customer Experience: Smart metering provides greater insight into customer water use, streamlines move-in and move-out processes, and helps ensure all customers are on the best tariff available to them, enhancing the ability to provide more regular and accurate water billing.
  • Non-Household Demand Reduction: Yorkshire Water is targeting a 15% reduction of non-household water demand by 2050 against a 2020 baseline by proactively working with customers to identify opportunities to reduce water demand and water waste.

 

By undertaking the meter exchange program and converting to smart metering, Yorkshire Water can also ensure the security of its water supply is more robust, reduce the amount of chemicals used in water treatment, and reduce carbon emissions in both the treatment and distribution water.

 

“Since the inception of Netmore’s LoRaWAN network in the UK, we have worked diligently to establish strong customer relationships that are meaningful and impactful to the local community and environment. We are honoured to have been selected by Yorkshire Water and are committed meeting the strict requirements to deliver smart metering data that will improve their operational performance, deliver better environmental outcomes, and support regulatory compliance, says Vadim Lyu, Managing Director UK, Netmore Group

 

Morrison Water Services, under contract with Netmore, will plan, schedule and work with household and non-household customers to deliver the exchange of the meter and ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction is achieved. Itron and Diehl Metering have been selected as meter providers for this programme. The meter exchange program is subject to the Ofwat final determination for AMP8. More details will be released after final determination; however, the program is expected to begin in South Yorkshire in 2025.

Netmore is a global company with a focus on providing local delivery and support. The organization’s growing presence across Europe, the United States, and the Asia Pacific Region includes dedicated regional resources with a deep understanding of local markets, regulations, and customer requirements in support of one of the largest global installed bases of water utility AMI networks and contracted smart meters.

 

About Netmore Group

Netmore Group is an IoT network operator, building the leading multinational network to advance sustainable business practices. We offer a reliable network platform and leading connectivity expertise for efficient measuring, monitoring, and optimization of resource use. With 10 years in the industry, we have a solid track record, operating borderless on the European market and have grown to become a leading global network operator. Netmore group’s main owner is the Nordic infrastructure investor Polar Structure.

 

About Yorkshire Water

We’re Yorkshire Water. The people trusted to take care of Yorkshire’s most valuable natural resource. On the surface, it sounds simple. We manage and look after the region’s water. But water is not quite like anything else. We’re not like any other business – and nowhere is quite like Yorkshire. Our work means much more than just supplying clean drinking water, taking away wastewater and looking after the region’s coast and countryside. We’re an integral part of Yorkshire life and millions of people who live and work here rely upon us, every single day.

 

We look after communities, protect the environment and plan ahead to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow, always. 24/7, 365, we provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing and prosperity. That means over 5 million customers, and the millions of people who visit Yorkshire each year rely on us, every day. 140,000 businesses also depend upon the water we supply and the wastewater we take away to provide goods and services that support the economy – not only in Yorkshire, but across the United Kingdom and beyond.

 

 

Cleaning & Facilities Management, News

Cleanology appoints first ever ESG Director

Multi award winning UK commercial and office cleaning company Cleanology has promoted Kate Lovell to take on an influential new director level role.

Kate, who joined Cleanology as Head of Marketing two years ago, and who was recently promoted to Marketing Director, has been appointed as Cleanology’s first ever ESG Director (Environmental, Social and Governance).

The talented marketeer will now play a pivotal role spearheading Cleanology’s drive to maintain its position as a market leading business with outstanding sustainability and social impact credentials.

“Heading up Cleanology’s push to be a champion of sustainability is a privilege and one of my most treasured career highlights,” enthused Kate. “Sustainability is a subject close to my heart and is hugely important to our customers. We acknowledge that our impact extends beyond delivering exceptional cleaning services to fostering a positive influence on our community, ensuring fair treatment of our staff, and promoting sustainability and inclusivity”.

This summer Cleanology has been awarded The Planet Mark sustainability certification while later this year it is set to be certified as carbon neutral.  It has also been working with one of its sustainability partners, which aims to make a positive social and environmental impact through tree planting by Armed Forces veterans, assisting them on a pathway to meaningful employment.

Kate’s full in-tray will include steering Cleanology towards B-Corp status and achieving EcoVadis medals that demonstrate a strong management system that addresses sustainability criteria and meeting Scope 3 emissions targets, which occur in a company’s value chain. Cleanology is also aiming to be Net Zero by 2035 which will also entail meeting strict sustainability criteria.

Cleanology CEO and Co-Founder Dominic Ponniah has joined the international ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association) Sustainability Committee, with the goal of driving the family-owned company’s sustainability vision not just in the UK, but across the globe.

“We focus our effort on areas which achieve the greatest environmental impact, being the first to market in several key areas with the hope that our environmental innovations will become industry norms,” explained Dominic. “We are proud that 45% of clients choose Cleanology for our sustainability record.  We don’t see any value in partnering with companies unless they are like-minded and similarly ambitious on sustainability. I am so excited that Kate has agreed to take on this hugely important new role and look forward to supporting her on our ambitious sustainability journey.”

Cleanology has been demonstrating a commitment to sustainability for some time. It has been a pioneer in eco-friendly initiatives such as being the first in Europe to introduce portion-controlled biological cleaning sachets as well as being the first cleaning company in the UK to issue staff uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles. These schemes have resulted in saving 46,800 litres of cleaning solution and 62,400 plastic bottles annually.

Furthermore, the introduction of uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles prevents 7,000 bottles from entering landfill each year.

From June 2023 to July 2024 Cleanology saved 143,648 pieces of plastic from being used, marking an impressive 78% increase from the previous year.

Cleanology also prioritises fair pay and employee well-being, ensuring 99% of its employees receive the Real Living Wage, a massive increase from just 18% in 2017.

Cleanology has also invested in a fully electric van fleet at its London headquarters in Vauxhall, south west London. This saves 5,000 litres of diesel per year – equivalent to 13.5 tonnes of CO2.   There is no road tax or London congestion charge to pay, which saves £8,500 per vehicle, and a £51,000-a-year cost reduction overall.  All energy used to power the Head Office is from 100% sustainable sources – including 48% wind, solar 24%, 16% bioenergy and 12% hydro.

In October, Cleanology will be bidding to win the Sustainability – Best Practice (Service Provider) category at the 2024 European Cleaning and Hygiene Awards in Lisbon, the same award it won last year in Dublin. Last year Cleanology picked up six national and international trophies for its contribution to the cleaning sector and its approach to sustainability. Additionally, Cleanology has won the Best Small to Medium Business award at the Lloyd’s Bank British Excellence Awards for its strong ESG successes and credentials. We are also proud to be finalists for the Diversity in the Workplace award at the European Cleaning and Hygiene Awards, further underscoring our commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse working environment.

Visit: https://cleanology.com/services/office-cleaning/

 

News from Wales

Inspire! Award for pioneering partnership that’s upskilling social care workers

A suggestion by an Innovate Trust staff member has led to a ground-breaking partnership with a trade union that is equipping social care workers across a large part of South Wales with inclusive skills.

 

The partnership between Innovate Trust and UNISON Wales has become a model for how the union and social care employers can work together to make courses available to non-traditional learners.

 

An Official Learning Agreement was signed last autumn to reinforce the importance of workplace learning.

 

Recognising the success of the partnership, Innovate Trust and UNISON Wales have won the Workplace Change Makers Award in the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards 2024. The partnership and 11 other winners will be attending the award ceremony at the Coal Exchange Hotel, Cardiff on September 10.

 

Co-ordinated by Learning and Work Institute with support from the Welsh Government, the Inspire! Awards are the highlight of Adult Learners’ Week in Wales from September 9-15. They recognise those who have demonstrated a commitment to never stop learning.

 

Each Inspire! winner demonstrates how learning can offer second chances, help create new career opportunities, build confidence and help communities become vibrant and successful.

 

Responding to the award, Donna Miller, Innovate Trust Training Manager, said: “Being a charitable organisation, it’s difficult to find free or part funded, specialist training. So, we were delighted to discover the learning and development part of UNISON and what it could offer Innovate Trust. Winning the award was a lovely surprise and a proud moment.”

 

Innovate Trust is a not-for-profit disability support organisation supplying services throughout the Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff.

 

The winning partnership began when an Innovate Trust employee asked if a webinar course organised by UNISON’s Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) could be offered to more of her colleagues.

 

Unison’s WULF project, funded by Welsh Government, is committed to providing social care workers with dedicated webinars and face-to-face courses, both in partnership with employers and through its all-Wales webinar programme.

 

Jenny Griffin, from UNISON, worked closely with management to negotiate a programme of courses, delivered in work time with staff paid and released to attend.

 

“The agreement shows our members that the employer wants to work with the union to prioritise learning and demonstrates that the courses weren’t a one-off – learning is going to be happening all the time now,” said Jenny.

 

An initial phase of three British Sign Language Level 1 courses was delivered by Adult Learning Wales throughout 2023, with a follow-on Level 2 course to enable staff to continue developing their new-found skills. These courses were co-funded by the WULF project and the employer, with 68 learners taking part.

 

The second stage was delivery of bespoke Time Management and Managing Difficult Conversations courses, funded through the union’s exclusive member learning offer. This led to more workers joining the union, giving them protection and access to UNISON college courses.

 

Innovate Trust has now appointed two new union learning representatives to support colleagues and ensure union-led learning is a part of its DNA.

 

Donna added: “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with our learners reporting that their new skills have been warmly received by individuals who use our services, increasing confidence and improving communication.”

 

UNISON Regional Manager, Andy Rutherford, added: “Social care workers are at the heart of our union and this initiative builds their skills and confidence directly helping the people, families and communities that Innovate Trust supports.”

 

For adults in Wales keen to start their learning journey, in-person taster courses and online sessions will run throughout September and during Adult Learners’ Week.  Advice and information will be available locally to inspire people to take up learning as a way of increasing their employability, building life skills and improving their quality of life.

 

Lynne Neagle, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Education, said: “The effort, talent and determination on display from all the finalists in this year’s Inspire! Adult Learning Awards is truly inspiring.

 

“I am determined that Wales should be a place where everyone has the chance to return to learning and renew their career at whatever stage of life they are at. Adult Learners’ Week is a great opportunity to discover your passion for learning or brush up on your existing skills. I’d encourage anyone looking for support or change of direction to look at the support available from Working Wales.

 

“Learning as an adult is not only a great way to improve employability but is also a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, as well as boosting self-esteem and confidence.”

 

Joshua Miles, Learning and Work Institute Director, said: “I would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners of the 2024 Inspire! Adult Learner Awards and to thank them for sharing their inspiring stories with us.

 

“They have overcome significant challenges, such as health issues, unemployment, low confidence, or caring responsibilities, and have transformed their lives through learning. In doing so, they have also inspired others to follow in their footsteps and have made a positive difference to communities across Wales.

 

“Learning is a lifelong journey that can enrich our lives in many ways. Now more than ever, it is important that we support and celebrate adults in Wales who return to learning later in life in the hope of a brighter future.”

 

To find out what’s going on during Adult Learners’ Week and for personalised advice on your own learning options and the support available, get in touch with Working Wales on 0800 028 4844 or search www.workingwales.gov.wales.

Charity

School friends to run next year’s TCS London Marathon for “amazing charities”

Two longstanding friends have chosen to run their first ever TCS London Marathon for two “amazing charities” close to their hearts, next year.

 

Rachel Herbert and Katy Godsell, both from Welshpool, who have been friends since classmates at Llanfyllin High School, have teamed up to support each other to raise as much money as possible for their chosen charities.

 

Rachel is supporting the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Lingen Davies Cancer Centre which supports people in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid-Wales, whilst Katy is raising funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

 

Both women and their families have received treatment and support from the charities at the toughness times of their lives.

 

“I am running the London Marathon in 2025 in memory of my brother, Matthew Turner,” said Rachel. “He was just 43 when diagnosed with cancer and died aged 44.

 

“After his diagnosis, I took Matthew to many of his chemotherapy and immunotherapy appointments. The staff were absolutely amazing to my brother and, whilst he was there having treatment, he was comfortable and well looked after.

 

“I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge and raising as much money as I can. I chose Lingen Davies because of their amazing work in the community to raise awareness and provide support. I want to give back and hopefully help raise funds to help others.”

 

Katy said: “I am honoured to be running the London Marathon for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, as our daughter Eleri has received so much ongoing support and treatment for a rare bowel condition, Hertzsprungs.

 

“At birth, she had lifesaving surgery and she continues to receive treatment to support her growth as a toddler. I am very excited to be running my first marathon and we, as a family, just want to be able to give something back and say a huge thank you to all the truly amazing staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”

 

James Lunney, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s challenge events manager, said: “Katy and family have raised over £7,000 for us in the past, all to say thank you for the amazing care their daughter, Eleri, has received at our hospital.

 

“We’re excited to see Katy take on her first marathon in London 2025 and incredibly grateful for her passion to fundraise and inspire others to donate. 100,000 sick kids are treated at our hospital every year and together, with the help of people like Katy, we can transform their experience.”

As an ex-breast cancer patient herself, Katy has experienced first-hand the amazing work Lingen Davies Cancer Centre does for patients across Mid Wales and Shropshire, and she’s therefore keen to support Rachel.

 

Likewise, Rachel has a connection to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where one of her sons is currently receiving treatment.

 

Tarrah Lewis, Lingen Davies fundraiser, says runners taking part in the London Marathon have raised more than £150,000 for local cancer services over the last decade.

 

“Running the London Marathon is many people’s dream and we have a limited number of places every year – they’re highly sought after,” she said. “We had lots of applications and Rachel’s was tremendously strong, as she will be running in memory of her brother, Matt.

 

“Rachel has already raised more than £2,500 in sponsorship and wants to double that. We know she’ll make her whole family proud and has the support of the whole Mid Wales community behind her. We wish her all the very best.

 

“Lingen Davies exists to support cancer patients throughout Mid Wales and Shropshire. We want to make sure that local people can access excellent local cancer services at the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre.”

 

Rachel and Katy are planning a series of fundraising events, including a Spinnathon on October 5 at Flash Leisure Centre, quiz nights, raffles, a Family Fun Day and lots more throughout the year.

 

The women will be chronicling their progress on their Facebook pages which will be used to announce fun events. Follow Rachel at https://www.facebook.com/rachel.turner.376695  and Katy at https://www.facebook.com/teamelerirunslondonmarathon

 

Local businesses supporting the pair include WPG (Welshpool Printing Group), Phil Blagg, Photographer, Figure and Face, Serendipity, Vintage Barbers, Rikki Lloyd, The Hair Studio, Cornstore, Powis Castle, Welshpool, Parkhall Farm, Whittingham and Hoo Zoo Dinosaur World, Telford. Many of these businesses have donated raffle prizes to forthcoming raffles.

 

Anyone wishing to add their support can contact Rachel on her Facebook page and  Katy by emailing: bonkerskaty@me.com .

Property

Insatiable desire to own a home is pushing up house prices, and it’s showing no sign of stopping.

House prices are on track to rise again in September, a leading property expert has predicted.
Property expert Jonathan Rolande, the founder of House Buy Fast and lead spokesman for the National Association of Property Buyers says “the insatiable desire” to own a home is continuing to push up prices.
And despite an impending Budget which the Government has warned will bring challenges, Mr Rolande thinks prices will continue to increase.
Mr Rolande said: “I expect to see a small but important increase to house prices this month. Savvy buyers are purchasing just ahead of the anticipated interest rate reduction as the speed of price rises will increase once rates are cut. Recent wage growth will also have a positive effect.”
 Explaining why, he continued: “The seemingly insatiable desire to own a home has helped to push house prices up again, the fifth month in a row. This has been fuelled by the increased availability of mortgages at cheaper rates. Mortgage approvals are at a two-year high with some rates below 4% for the first time this year.
“Confidence is somewhat fragile and buyers are being far more selective about what they buy and will walk away from properties that have issues or are overpriced. This something they were not doing in the immediate post-pandemic boom. Sellers and their estate agents must pitch the price accurately to avoid having to reduce later, to entice the still relatively small number of people able to buy.
“This means we have a quite well balanced market where neither side, buyer or seller, holds all of the cards. Each must play the game fairly to get a sale over the line.
 The lack of supply of property is still an acute issue but it has been improved by landlords who have decided to sell their rental properties to beat tax and regulation changes that look set to hit them hard in October and beyond.
“This small but significant exodus looks set to continue at least until lower interest rates make retaining a buy-to-let more viable for landlords with a mortgage. Increasing prices will also deter many from selling, creating, perhaps a greater shortage in the future that will, again fuel prices.
“But we have a lot to get through before then. The new Government has settled in, the honeymoon phase is over and we now need to listen carefully to see in which direction we’ll be taken. Much of what has been said already is rather downbeat, dour even. But it will take more than words to dampen the property market because the British desire to own a home seems as strong as ever.”
Mr Rolande’s comments come in the wake of the latest data which show how, over the first seven months of 2024, house prices have risen by 1.4%.  All areas of market activity are up year-on-year – the long-awaited base rate cut has not had a major impact so far. Price inflation has improved across all regions of the UK. It remains slightly negative in southern England, but London’s positive at 0.2%
One in five homes have had their asking price cut by 5% or more, an above-average level showing continued price sensitivity amongst buyers.
It takes 28 days to sell a home with no asking price reduction, but 73 days if you overprice and then need to reduce by 5% or more House prices are on track to be 2.5% higher over 2024 with 1.1m sales
Business, Business News

Mon Timber Finalists in The Wood Awards

Mon Timber is celebrating after being shortlisted in the buildings category of the prestigious Wood Awards for its work on the restoration of the iconic Bristol Beacon.

Mon Timber, a branch of Premier Forest Products, worked alongside contractors Ian Williams Carpentry (IWC) and Willmott Dixon to renew the historic Grade 2 listed site earlier this year. They completed bespoke projects to regenerate the interior of the building with beautiful wooden features, with acoustic prowess to match.

The Wood Awards is the UK’s premier competition for excellence in architecture and product design in wood. Established in 1971, the Wood Awards recognises, encourages and promotes outstanding wood design, craftsmanship and installation.

From more than two hundred entries, eighteen buildings and fifteen furniture projects were selected by the judging panel of leading architects, engineers, designers, artists, critics and sustainability experts. Winners will be announced at the Carpenter’s Hall in London on 20th November.

Terry Edgell, Co-founder & CEO of Premier Forest Products said: “We’re so pleased to have been shortlisted for the prestigious Wood Awards this year, for the fantastic work completed on the Bristol Beacon. The impressive architecture will be on display for years to come, and the hard work that went into the project needs to be rewarded. A big congratulations to our team at Mon Timber, and good luck for the awards ceremony.”

Premier Forest Products is engaged in the importation, processing, merchanting and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products from multiple sites across the UK.

Charity & CSR, Healthcare News, News, Swansea

Swansea health charities boosted by Amazon donations

Two charities related to the Swansea Bay University Health Board have received donations totalling £2,000 from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea Bay.

Swansea Bay Health Charity is the official charity of Swansea Bay University Health Board.

Tŷ Olwen Hospice is a specialist palliative care unit within the cancer directorate of the health board. The charities were given £1,000 each to continue facilitating patient care and fund scientific research, training and development.

 

Speaking on the donations, Dan Boulger, Site Leader at Amazon in Swansea, said:

“We are pleased to support Swansea Bay Health Charity and Tŷ Olwen Hospice with donations to continue building our relationship with the Swansea Bay University Health Board. Swansea Bay Health Charity is a great advocate for the needs of the Swansea Bay University Health Board and Tŷ Olwen Hospice is dedicated to making people’s lives easier during difficult days. Everyone on site is appreciative of what the charities do for our community.”

 

Jonathan Michael, an employee from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea, added:

“Swansea Bay Health Charity and Tŷ Olwen Hospice enhance the care given by Swansea’s incredible NHS professionals, meaning that if or when a member of the community is sick, we know we’re receiving the best care possible. I’m so thankful that Amazon is supporting the charities with these donations, and I hope they provide a welcome boost to our hospital staff.”

 

Claire Chubb, from Swansea Bay Health Charity, said:

“We want to say a big thank you to Dan and the Amazon team in Swansea Bay for their contribution to our work. It’s thanks to donations like theirs that we can carry on supporting patients and staff of the Swansea Bay University Health Board.”

 

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded the Multibank initiative with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need. ‘Cwtch Mawr’ Multibank opened in Swansea this year, with Faith in Families. The initiative has donated more than 4 million surplus goods to over 400,000 families across Wales, Scotland, Greater Manchester, and London.

Amazon has supported more than 700,000 students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

 

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

 

Appointments, Creative & Marketing, Marketing & PR, News

James Fooks-Bale Joins Frontify As New Director of Brand Marketing

Frontify welcomes key new hire as company doubles down on creative brand building

LONDON, NEW YORK, 5th August 2024 – Frontify, the brand management platform, has announced the hiring of James Fooks-Bale as the new Director of Brand Marketing. Fooks-Bale brings over 20 years of creative strategy to Frontify’s team, where he will collaborate and lead on furthering Frontify’s brand vision.

Fooks-Bale joins Frontify from Monotype, where he worked as Creative Director, amongst other positions for just over 13 years, overseeing the development of the company’s global brand. Previously, Fooks-Bale spent a decade working in the design studios of Burberry, Alexander McQueen, and Stella McCartney.

 

“We are thrilled to have James join our growing team. His track record of growing strong brands for world renowned names, combined with his innovative vision and creativity will be invaluable for our brand growth.”

“With his background both from Monotype and in the fashion world, we saw a great combination of deep knowledge and understanding of our industry, combined with the innovative marketing approaches often found in fashion.  We really look forward to working with James on developing our brand, and exploring new ways of evolving and expanding our brand universe.” Digge Zetterberg Odh, VP of Marketing, Frontify said.

 

As Frontify’s Director of Brand Marketing, Fooks-Bale will lead on overseeing and developing Frontify’s brand marketing and the businesses unique position in the market.Based in the UK, he will report to Digge Zetterberg Odh, VP of Marketing, and will spend the next few months prioritising Frontify’s brand marketing position.

 

“At Frontify, we are creating a definitive destination for brands. With a deep understanding of the importance of brand management and marketing, I love analysing what makes a brand not only tick, but thrive. I’m delighted to join the team and to bring my expertise as we not only develop how we enable brands for our customers but how we build our own brand in the marketplace.” James Fooks-Bale said.

 

The appointment of Fooks-Bale as the new Director of Brand Marketing follows Digge Zetterberg Odh’s promotion to VP of Marketing and a key appointment last summer of Creative Director, Hugo Timm. In his role, Timm leads Frontify’s creative vision, strategy, and storytelling efforts, working on the intersection of brand, culture and technology.

 

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About Frontify

Frontify is a market-leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that empowers companies, including Uber, KIA, Vodafone, Maersk and Allianz to manage and develop their brands effectively. Established in 2013 and headquartered in St Gallen, Switzerland, Frontify’s 300+ people team works across the company’s Swiss, London and New York bases to serve customers around the world. For more information, visit https://www.frontify.com.

Marketing & PR, Marketing, PR and SEO, Thought Leadership, Thought Leadership Blogs

Surveys: Are they a total waste of time?

Written by Roger Jackson, CEO of SenseCheck

In the marketing world, traditional research methods like surveys and focus groups often come under fire. Critics argue that these tools offer little more than false guidance, with surveys being particularly vulnerable to scrutiny by some.

As someone with decades of experience in moderating focus groups, I could discuss that point very happily. Here’s a clue: they have to be done well!. But today, let’s focus on the humble survey — an easy thing to be rude about to get overly simplistic nods, yet I will argue remains an invaluable tool in the marketer’s arsenal.

The critical role of questionnaire design

Survey sceptics are quick to highlight the flaws inherent in asking people to complete questionnaires.  And they’re not entirely wrong. A poorly designed and executed survey can indeed yield misleading results. The adage “garbage in, garbage out” holds true—research and questionnaire construction is crucial, but it’s important to recognise that a well-crafted survey, designed with precision and thoughtfulness and executed with care, can offer useful insights.

Let’s think about the basics. The first rule of survey design is to ask questions that your respondents can answer truthfully and easily. These questions should tap into their opinions, perceptions, concerns, motivations, and needs—information that resides close to the surface of their consciousness and things that don’t require a feat of memory or imagination! Tools like choice models, which ask respondents to express preferences between two options, can also be effective in revealing deeper insights. They are easy to answer but rich in depth.

However, questionnaire design requires more than just asking the right questions. It’s also about how you ask them. Here are a few best practices:

  1. Clarify the purpose: Make sure respondents understand the objective of the survey. This motivates them to pay attention.
  2. Simplicity is key: Questions should be easy to understand and interpret, avoiding jargon or ambiguity. What might seem clear to you could be misinterpreted by your audience.
  3. Offer comprehensive options: Provide response choices that cover the main spectrum of potential answers, including an “other” option and a “don’t know” choice. Never force a response, but also don’t feel you have to include every imaginable option!
  4. Keep it brief: Both the overall survey and individual questions should be concise. Attention spans are short, especially in today’s TikTok-driven world, so aim for surveys that can be completed in under 10 minutes.
  5. Prioritise important questions: Place the most critical questions early in the survey when respondents are most focused.
  6. Mind the order: Ask about opinions and perceptions before seeking a conclusion or decision to avoid order effects that could skew the results.

Sampling: the silent influencer

Even the best-designed survey can falter if it’s not administered to the right audience.

Sampling bias is a significant risk, particularly in how respondents are recruited. Firstly, getting the “right” people costs money, and if the sample seems very cheap, there is probably a reason for that.

As way as paying for quality (i.e. getting these people) you then need to recruit the right balance, the right profile of sample. Of course, this must represent your target market well, but there are other things to consider, including purchase patterns. For instance, asking customers of Retailer A about their opinions on Retailer B will likely yield different results than asking Retailer B’s customers about their own shopping experiences. Balanced and representative samples are critical to mitigating these biases.

Today, the rise of bots and click farms presents an additional challenge on sample. Your survey providers must therefore employ advanced screening techniques and incorporate test questions to ensure data integrity, including getting rid of obvious ‘outliers’.

Even with these precautions, you can’t get rid of all “noise”.  So, sample size itself remains the crucial precautionary factor—the larger the sample, the more reliable the results. Put pragmatically, a few percentage of dodgy answers won’t ruin the learnings. Don’t cut corners on sample, it’s always a false economy.

The human factor: navigating bias in interpretation

Just because they generate “facts”, surveys are not immune to interpretation error.

For example, confirmation bias—the tendency to favour information that confirms pre-existing beliefs—can skew the conclusions you may draw from survey data. This bias can manifest in both the commissioner of the research and the agency conducting it.

To counteract this, it’s essential to contextualise data points through benchmarks and norms. A seemingly impressive result might only be average when compared to industry standards. For example, in product testing, an average score of 4.2 on a 5-point scale might indicate market success, whereas a 3.9, though seemingly still positive, could signal mediocrity.

Understanding behaviour: The power of correlation

One common criticism of the survey idea is the claim that “people don’t do what they say”. While there is, of course, some truth to this (one reason we must be careful to ask the right questions), proven methodologies exist to bridge the gap between stated intentions and actual behaviour.

In many cases, by correlating a large body of history of survey responses with real-life outcomes, marketers can gain a more accurate understanding of implied consumer behaviour. This can be very useful, for example for advertising or product testing.

But in general, we must recognise that surveys are not meant to only replicate reality. Rather, they aim to provide insights that inform marketing strategies. They’re a tool for understanding the “why” behind consumer actions, which is just as important as tracking the actions themselves.

Effective surveys contribute to a more comprehensive decision-making process, serving as one of many inputs alongside other data sources, A/B testing, and even informed intuition.

A balanced approach

Surveys are not a magic bullet, but they are a powerful ingredient in the recipe for marketing success—when used wisely.

The key lies in understanding their limitations and executing them with precision. Research should be judged against the alternative—guesswork—not against a mythical standard of perfect understanding.

If surveys could provide 100 per cent accurate answers on actual behaviour, then by implication the role of savvy marketers would be redundant. Instead, in our real-world work surveys should be seen as a valuable tool that, when combined with other methods and your expert judgment, helps guide better decisions.

Surveys offer more than just data—they offer insights. And, in a world awash with information, insights are the true currency of effective marketing.

About the author

Roger Jackson is founder and CEO of SenseCheck

 

 

Technology

New Panasonic Auto Setting Feeder Brings Autonomous SMT Production One Step Closer

The Panasonic Auto Setting Feeder is a breakthrough in automated parts supply with automatic loading improving work efficiencies by reducing labour and loss rate while enhancing daily operations on the shop floor.

Munich, DE. September 2024 – Panasonic Factory Solutions introduced its new Auto Setting Feeder (ASF) taking a significant step towards autonomous SMT production. Automatic setting and loading are key aspects of automating the supply of parts in the production process. In an industry-first, the Panasonic ASF technology automates setting and loading reducing set time drastically and removing the need for human intervention.

Components can be smoothly inserted into the production line without requiring operator skills to physically connect the old component reel with the new reel using splices, tapes and clips. Feed speed and accuracy are significantly increased with up to 60 seconds saved per session.

Automated material supply

The ASF automatically peels off the cover tape for feeding surface-mounted components ranging from a width of 4mm to 104 mm. The loading unit then automatically feeds the next tape and refills as required. This enables customers to maintain uptime with predictive maintenance scheduling, reduce work effort and loss rate as well as increase placement and utilisation rates.

The ASF is part of the latest Panasonic NPM G Series and compatible with previous NPM and X-Series. The NPM G Series is an integrated range of Surface Mounted Technology (SMT) production systems designed to respond in real-time to customer supply and demand changes through continuous, autonomous updates – helping to make the autonomous factory a reality.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated production to improve processes, the G-Series includes the Auto Setting Feeder, the NPM-GP / L Stencil Printer and the NPM-GH Pick and Place machine that enable customers to set up individual, flexible, efficient, and economical production lines.

Stefan Hauck, Head of Marketing at Panasonic Factory Solutions comments: “Our factory automation technologies help customers to take a significant step towards 24-hour manufacturing. As supply chain challenges continue to be a major concern for businesses around the world, assembly lines need to respond to sudden changes at any time of the day. The ASF is a game-changer by enabling them to increase efficiencies, stop splicing and keep production running.”

For the full details on Panasonic ASF, visit: Auto Setting Feeder | Panasonic Connect